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Last week we gave NauticEd eLearning Software a new look.

Here is a video giving a run through the back end and how to navigate around, engage in your sailing courses, add experience to your online logbook, view and send your sailing resume to a charter company, earn badges and much more.

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Posted by Grant Headifen, Global Director of Education – NauticEd.

One of the greatest things I love about my job is the ability to apply the latest technology to the sailing education industry – it is so exciting to be leading the world in this area.

And – today comes as a greatly awaited day for us to announce one of the bigger innovations in not only sailing education but in the entire community of eLearning itself.

I’d like to introduce Nano-Forums!!!!!!!!

Please watch this video and you’ll see why our Sailing Nano-Forum is so innovative and such a benefit to the sailing community at large – You’re Welcome! It represents a MASSIVE investment in technology over the past 6 months. Ummm like really REALLY massive but we think it’s worth it!

We think you will really enjoy it.

Oh and btw since this is new technology to the world and we invented it, we are coining the phrase NANO-FORUM right here right now!

What it ultimately means is that we all now can collectively crowd source information in targeted specific areas and re-use the crowds knowledge for educational drill down topic purposes in a way never been done before.

Just watch the video – you’ll get what we are talking about.

Please engage in the Nano-Forums through out our courses. Look for the SeaTalks button at the top right of every page of the course.

Airline pilots, naval seamen, scientists and scuba divers all maintain a logbook. So why don’t sailors? Because it’s just in the too hard bucket with seemingly no point to do it. Until Now!

The NauticEd logbook is maintained for you for free in the cloud and is always accessible by you and anyone you specifically designate with permissions.
Additionally it is easy to edit and update. You can do this either online or via our NauticEd App.

But why? Well Yacht charter companies require a resume of your sailing experience, education and your instructor sign offs. You simply can not charter a yacht with out one. Even if you have a certificate from a sailing association, the yacht charter company will not accept it with out a resume.

Until now yacht charter companies have relied on the charterer to fill out a paper resume each time. No, more and more they are beginning to reply upon the NauticEd resume system because it is the only sailing resume system in the world that focuses on delivering the right information to the charter company.

GETTING STARTED WITH NEW LOGBOOK ENTRYS

When getting started with NauticEd, you are going to need to enter your past experience. It seems like a daunting task but within about 20 minutes you should be able to have enough of your previous data entered to reflect reality.

Go to the experience page when you login. There you will see the page asking you for a sailing date entry. Now we realize it is going to be impossible to make your past entires accurate. So here is our advice. Start with your most recent entries first. How many times have you been sailing this year, last year and the year before. Did you go mostly in the summer and some in the fall, spring winter.

Next realistically start to enter an equivalent amount of days that you probably went this year. Pick dates that would be sort of reasonably close. e.g. if you went sailing say 5 times in the first 2 quarters of the year then pick a day in January, 2 in February, 1 in April and 2 in May. Something like that!

You’ll notice that when making a second entry that the last entry you made is queued up all you have to do is change the date slightly. For past entries, you don’t need to add the non asterix stuff – just the date, the vessel and if you were master or crew. In this manner you can do about 6-10 entires per minute. Now go back to last year and repeat then the year before. Keep going until you have enough entires that realistically reflect your recent 3-4-5 years of experience. This will take about 20 minutes. If you want to go all out go for it.

If you have a few 7 day charters then try to remember the month that you did it in and make the first entry then see the second entry already queued up whereby you increment the date by 1. In this manner a 7 day charter takes about 30 seconds to enter.

This 20 minute exercise will bring you up to date. Now if you have an iOS device make sure you down load our Sailing App. In the App you can make an instant entry when you get off the boat at the end of the day.

Another important feature of an experience logbook is authentication. We created a CrewMate Authentication (TM) system whereby your logbook entries get reported as authenticated. Read about CrewMate Authentication here. So you want to be setting up CrewMates in your logbook area so that your CrewMates can auto authenticate your entries as you make them (optional but it gives credibility to your logbook).

Finally we are about to launch an exciting new product into our App. It is a gps tracking system that will record and store your daily tracks for you. At the end of the outing the gpx file is uploaded to your logbook and you can see your tracks at anytime in the future. Plus the track stores your miles for you AND this also creates an authenticated entry into your logbook. We expect to Launch this sometime in August 2015.

NauticEd offers a FREE course in Navigation Rules - it is a fun, entertaining, multimedia online course and will bring you up to speed on what you as a responsible sailor should know. Takes about 40 minutes and is well worth the time. Plus you’ll get to see how cool we are!

This rule is one of the most fundamental give way rules of sailing. It is Rule 12a in International Rules for Prevention of Collisions at Sea (ColRegs) and Rule 10 in ISAF racing rules. Watch the video to learn the answer.

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We encourage all sailors to learn the Navigation Rules – why would you not? The Rules are specifically called International Rules for Prevention of Collision at Sea. They apply to all boaters.

The NauticEd sailing resume is accepted by Yacht Charter Companies World Wide and we are the only global provider to facilitate the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) via online theory and Practical tuition. THE ICC IS NOW REQUIRED FOR SAILING IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. [learn more about ICC... ]

Please enjoy the video below created by a joint effort of Virtual Eye and NauticEd.

Such an awesome endorsement – The U.S. Naval Sea Cadet, Courageous Division Sailing Program has taken NauticEd on as the sole provider for sailing training.

NauticEd becomes U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Program official provider

We think this is pretty cool and a great endorsement for our hard work over the past 8 years.

Cadets will initially start out with the NauticEd Skipper Rank bundle of courses. This includes our Skipper Course and our Maneuvering Under Power course. Both courses are essential to starting out operating and skippering a sailboat. The Skipper course is about 20 hours of study and the Maneuvering Under Power Course is about 4 hours of online study and about 3 hours of actual maneuvering practice on the water. Embedded into the MUP course is 28 on the water practical exercises. Once completed, students become completely confident with tight quarters maneuvering in high wind conditions.

Students don’t reach the Rank of skipper online, of course. They must to at least 10 days of sea experience. Half of which at least as master of the vessel. Or if they receive 4 days of practical on-the-water instruction and receive a proficiency verification by one of our affiliate instructors.

The NauticEd Sailing Resume tracks the practical time and automatically awards the Rank when due. Students can then download their sailing certificate and resume.

I am trying to find a school that will administer your verified proficiency test or checkout. I thought I read that it could be done in one day by one of your affiliated schools. I am making a trip to Annnapolis, MD in July and have added an extra day to get this done. However the local school that I contacted is also telling me about a four day course. I don’t know if I am asking them for the correct thing. The school that I contacted is Yachting Education. He mentioned the RYA Day Skipper Course which I have signed up for on your site and am slowly working through the modules. However I am just looking for the Verified Proficiency Certificate at this point and my time in Annapolis is limited.

Tom

Here is our Answer

>>>>>>>>>>>>

Tom

Good question – Let me elaborate and explain the differences.

(1) There is verified proficiency – this is a verification to yacht charter companies that you have been out with an instructor and they verify that you can sail competently. It however has nothing to do with gaining the ICC license as required by European Countries. This takes as long as it takes. i.e. if you demonstrate to the instructor immediately over a 3-4 hour period that you are totally competent then that is what it takes and virtually any affiliated instructor will sign off. If you’re a bit light on a few things then the instructor may see the need for some instruction to get you to the point of being competent and proficient. That may take several days or just a few hours depending on your existing experience and competence. Basically, the instructor will not sign it until you are Competent and Proficient. And again basically it is an indication to charter companies that you are verified by an independent professional party. Yacht charter companies accept this. There is a caveat regarding European Countries however – the country not necessarily the charter company will require the ICC license. If you have an accident and there is an investigation and you don’t hold the correct license you could be in a lot of trouble in a foreign country and court.

(2) And there is the ICC Practical Competence Assessment. To gain the ICC license required by European countries you must do a Practical Competence Assessment in addition to doing the RYA Day Skipper Theory course. The Practical Competence Assessment must be administered by an Instructor that has been authorized by a national sailing body appointed by their government. The government has to be a country that signed United Nations Resolution 40. The USA and Canada did not sign this resolution. Thus no USA national sailing body can issue an ICC. United Kingdom did sign the resolution and they appointed the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) as their national sailing body. Thus for the ICC for North Americans, the license can be issued through the UK National Sailing body – the RYA. Once you pass the RYA Day Skipper Theory Course from NauticEd you need to go to an approved RYA practical school to be practically accessed. Yachting Education in Annapolis is one of the only few schools in North America that is an approved RYA school and the only RYA North American school focused on recreational sailing ICC license.

Strange as it may seem – but since the ICC requirement has gained its strength in Europe mostly in 2014, North Americans are now struggling to figure out the ICC requirement. It’s why NauticEd flew to the UK last year to make our alliance and provide this service for North Americans and also for any other country citizens not a signatory to United Nations res. 40 ICC creation.

The ICC practical portion sign off then can be gained in 2 ways. (1) a one day assessment. You must demonstrate total competence in sailing and navigation (thus the RYA Day skipper theory requirement because of the extensive navigation knowledge required). or (2) a 5 day on the water training to gain the RYA Day Skipper Practical Certificate.

Yachting Education in Annapolis administers both the one day ICC assessment and the 5 day practical training. If you do the 5 day training, your are virtually guaranteed to gain the ICC because of the extensive training that Mark will give you. If you do the 1 day assessment and you are up to speed on sailing and navigation tides etc then you should have no problem.

Yacht Charter companies world wide accept the ICC license easily because they understand the extensive test out you have been through. ICC is not a one day weekend warrior bucket list sailing course provided by most North American Sailing Associations. It is a true international sailing license. Charter companies however also require a sailing resume listing practical experience. This is why we provide a free online logbook to our students and a free resume building tool.

I hope that answers your question. Since you are already an RYA Day Skipper Student, you should be looking for Yachting Education to do either the ICC one day assessment or the 5 day RYA Day Skipper Practical Training.

If you were based in any other country in the world who has not signed resolution 40, then you can go to an RYA school in that country to do your practical accessment or training (after you have taken the RYA Day Skipper Theory Course from NauticEd).

Last month our team went to the Bahamas to train with Mark @ Yachting Education for the 5 day training. Whilst we are all very competent, we figured what the heck we might learn something. Wow heck yes we learned a lot of tips and tricks from Mark and the experience was well worth it. Now that it is summer he has moved his operation back to Annapolis. So even if you are competent, don’t discount the value of a 5 days training. And who can complain about the opportunity to sail around the Chesapeake bay for 5 days stopping at historic ports and villages?

We created these animations to show the process of sailing your boat to the dock when approaching from an up-wind or down-wind position.

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You’ll get notifications when we post cool stuff like this.

These are the kinds of really helpful tips and tricks that we post in our Skipper Course. Take the NauticEd Skipper Course NOW and add it to your FREE NauticEd online sailing resume. A sailing resume is required by Yacht Charter Companies EVERY TIME you charter.

Heading Up-Wind at the Dock

Heading Down-Wind at the Dock. Notice the difference in start positions.

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Here are some great examples of how you can read the tell-tales and instantly know what to do. Look at each example and decide what you should be doing.

In the examples, click the selection box you think best on the image.

In this example above you are on the starboard side of the boat since the boat is going from left to right. Also, you see the green tell-tale over the top of the red. Red is on port side of the boat. The green tell-tale is on this side of the window and on the starboard side of the boat. And one more observation is required and that is that the genoa is on the other side of the mast and thus on the port side of the boat.

Given all the deductions from above, the wind must be coming from your right hand and flowing into the computer screen to the left. The green tell-tale is being starved of air whilst you can see the red has plenty as it is flowing smoothly. This means there is turbulent air on the starboard side of the boat.

If you sheet in (tighten up the sails by pulling on the post side working jib sheet) slightly this will allow the incident wind to flow more smoothly on the this side of the sail. The green tell-tale will then start flying backwards smoothly. We show this concept of smooth vs turbulent airflow using moving arrows inside our FREE Basic Sail Trim Course.

i.e. in the above – Sheet in!

If you are struggling with this - simply take our FREE Basic Sail Trim course. It will make you more knowledgeable than most sailors out there.

FREE Basic Sail Trim Course

or get it on iPad ($a buck .99)

Here are some more examples to test your knowledge.

So what do you think? Are you ready to take our FREE Basic Sail Trim Course now?

Go there now – what the heck – throw caution, timidity and fear to the wind!

If you like what we have done here, please LIKE it on facebook – thanks it really helps us grow. While you are at it please follow/LIKE our facebook page over there ——> we post fun cool stuff.

Here are some great examples of how you can read the tell-tales and instantly know what to do. Look at each example and decide what you should be doing.

In the examples, click the selection box you think best on the image.

In this example above you are on the port side of the boat since the boat is going from right to left. Also, you see the red tell-tale over the top of the green. Red is on port side of the boat. The green tell-tale is on the other side of the window and the starboard side of the boat. And one more observation is required and that is that the genoa is on the other side of the mast and thus on the starboard side of the boat.

Given all the deductions from above, the wind must be coming from your left hand and flowing into the computer screen to the right. The green tell-tale is being starved of air whilst you can see the red has plenty as it is flowing smoothly. This means there is turbulent air on the starboard side of the boat.

If you turn the boat into the wind slightly this will allow the incident wind to flow more smoothly on the other side of the sail. The green tell-tale will then start flying backwards smoothly. We show this concept of smooth vs turbulent airflow using moving arrows inside our FREE Basic Sail Trim Course.

i.e. in the above – HEAD UP!

If you are struggling with this - simply take our FREE Basic Sail Trim course. It will make you more knowledgeable than most sailors out there.

FREE Basic Sail Trim Course

or get it on iPad ($a buck .99)

Here are some more examples to test your knowledge.

So what do you think? Are you ready to take our FREE Basic Sail Trim Course now?

Go there now – what the heck – throw caution, timidity and fear to the wind!

Here is something pretty cool that we found. It’s Rick Moore’s drone tour of the Road Town Harbour in the BVI

We know a lot of you go to the BVI to charter because of the enormous sales of our BVI Fast Check Out Chart Briefing Course.

If you are thinking about going to the BVI, contact us we offer no cost consulting and reservations on which company to use and when are the best times to go.

Check out out BVI Fast Check Out Chart Briefing Course which is accepted by most yacht charter companies as an alternative to the sit down time consuming chart briefing prior to leaving the dock. The advantage of this briefing is also that you have all the information with you during your trip. Available online and in PDF and iPad formats.

The BVI Fast Check Out Chart Briefing is accepted by most yacht charter companies.